Safety razor



March 6; 1951 c, BUTLER 2,543,890 SAFETY RAZOR Filed July 8, 1948 INVENTOR ARTHU c ER By M11/ 1/" GENTS Patented Mar. 6, 1951 2,543,890 "SAFETY RAZOR Arthur Cecil Butler, Colgate, England, assignor to Rolls Razor Limited, London, England, a

British company Application July 8, 1948, Serial No. 37,692 In Great Britain March 22, 1948 2 Claims. 1

The invention relates to safety razors and has for one of its objects to so form such a razor that either side of the blade at its edge may be presented outwardly or inwardly selectively so that the wear from opposite sides may be equalized. When a double edged blade is used this permits each blade to be used selectively in any of four positions, thus considerably prolonging the useful life of the blade. These advantages are obtainable without the need for removing the blade from its holder.

A further object of the invention is to so form the razor that it can be stropped on any ordinary razor strop or honed on an ordinary abrading surface without removing or re-arranging the blade relative to its holder.

A further object is to produce a razor easy and satisfactory to use and which can be made and sold at small cost.

With these and other objects in View the razor according to the invention comprises a split shank to resiliently grasp a blade between the split portions, and a guard in the form of a closed frame having a pair of holes passing through opposite ends to receive the split shank while permitting rotation of the guard frame on the shank with the blade positioned within the confines of the frame, means being provided to limit the degree of relative rotation between blade and frame.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference is now made to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a face view, partly in section, of the Figure 3 is a perspective view of the parts when separated from each other;

Figure l is a cross-sectional view on the line IVIV of Figure 1, and

Figure is a perspective view illustrating the complete razor with the blade in the process of being stropped.

The razor illustrated comprises a handle I from one end of which projects a fixed shank 2 of circular cross-section. The shank is split longitudinally as indicated at 3 in Figure 3 to form side portions 4 between which the blade 5 can be inserted, these portions acting to resiliently grip and hold the blade therebetween. The blade 5 is of generally rectangular shape, its two opposite londitudinal edges being sharpened to form cutting edges 6.

For co-operation with the shank 2 and blade 5 there is provided a guard in the form of a closed frame 1 Which is of substantially rectangular shape and is so dimensioned that the blade 5 can be accommodated within it. Aligned holes 8 and 9 are provided in the opposite ends of the guard frame 'Lthe shank 2 being adapted to pass through these holeswith a frictional fit so as to allow for rotation of the guard frame on the shank when the blade 5 is engaged between the portions 4 of the shank. The hole 8 is made as a simple perforation through the end portion of the frame in which it is provided, this portion being widened to accommodate the hole. The hole 9 is made in a cylindrical boss ID on the opposite end portion of the guard frame, the boss lying nearest the handle I when the frame is engaged over the shank 2.

The end of the handle I nearest the shank 2 is formed with a cylindrical recess I I adapted to accommodate the part of the cylindrical boss I0 nearest the outside of the frame. From this recess I I there extends a pair of oppositely directed slots I2 affording clearance for the end portion of the guard frame on which the boss Ii] is provided. These slots are in alignment with the split 3 in the shank and are of dovetail shape and of such width as to give the guard frame 1 freedom for a rotational rocking movement when it is fully engaged over the shank 2.

One end of the blade 5 is formed with a slot I3 giving clearance for the part of the boss I0 extending inwardly of the guard frame when the blade is arranged in the frame and the latter is engaged over the shank 2. The opposite end of the blade is formed with a projecting tongue I4 which is adapted to fit freely in the hole 8 in the guard frame. c

To assemble the parts of the razor constituted by the handle I and its shank 2, the blade 5 and guard frame I, the blade is placed in the frame suchwise that the tongue I4 projects into the hole 8 and the slot I 3 lies over the inwardly projecting part of the boss It, the parts being held so that the cutting edges 6 of the blade lie adjacent the longitudinal portions of the frame. With the aid of the handle I, the shank 2 is now presented to the hole 9 so that it enters this hole while the blade engages in the split 3 between the side portions 4 of the shank. By further pressing the shank towards the guard frame, the shank will pass through the hole 9 and its side portions 4 will slide over the blade until the free end of the shank enters the hole 8 and the boss I0 fits into the recess I I, with the end portion of the frame nearest the handle extending through the dovetail slots I2. The frictional grip imposed upon the blade by the side portions of the shank when the latter has been engaged in the holes 8 and 9 is of such degree that the blade will act to prevent the guard frame from becoming accidentally detached from the shank.

The free end of the shank may be rounded as indicated at l to facilitate entry of the shank into the holes 8 and 9, while the side portions of the shank may be chamfered at the same end in the locality of the split 3 as indicated at I6 to facilitate entry of the blade into the split.

The amount by which the slots [2 permit of a rotational rocking movement of the guard frame 1 is such that, when either one of the two longitudinal portions of the frame is pressed against the face, the corresponding cutting edge-of the blade will project laterally of the frame sufficiently to be free to cut the hairs at the correctangle without fear of cutting the skin.

Figure 5 shows how the bladecan be stropped. with the razor parts in situ. With the aid of the handle I the guard frame I is laid upon the strop and the handle is rocked so as to cause one side of one of the cutting edges to be pressed against the strop-ping surface, the guard acting to maintain the correct angle, the razor then being moved along the strop in a direction away from this cutting edge. At the end of the stroke the handle is rocked in the opposite direction to cause the corresponding side of the other cuttin edge to be pressed against the stropping surface, the razor then being moved along the strop in a direction away from this cutting edge. The two corresponding sides of the two cutting edges will thus sired to hone the blade on a suitable abrading.

surface.

The longitudinal portions of the guard frame may, if desired, be of sinuous form or be formed with teeth.

I claim:

1. A safety razor blade holder comprising a handle, a fixed shank projecting from one end of the handle and split longitudinally to form side portions between-which the blade can be inserted and which will act resiliently to grip the blade, a guard in the form of a closed substantially rectangular frame which is larger than the blade to be used with the holder, aligned holes in the end portions of .said frame through which holes saidshank passesso as to constitute a pivot for said frame. while permitting the frame to be removed from the shank, and oppositely disposed slots in the end of the handle adjacent said shank, the slots receiving one of the said end portions of the frame and being wider than said end portion to enable the frame to execute a limited amount of rocking movement about said-shank.

2. A safety razor blade holder accordin to claim 1, wherein the hole in one of the end portions of the guard frame is surrounded by a cylindrical boss and the end of the handle adjacent the shank is provided with .a recess in which said boss engages, the oppositely disposed slots .in the handle radiating from said recess.

ARTHUR CECIL BUTLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare. of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 834,353 Arnold Oct. 30, 1906 1,008,410 Henderson Nov. 14, 1911 1,558,152 Fanslow Oct. 20, 1925 1,740,243 Ingersoll Dec. 17, 1929 1,999,941 McWilliams Apr. 30, 1935 

